EFL Championship Opening Round: Can Middlesbrough Avoid Last Season's Pitfalls? Leeds United Aim for a Winning Start

The EFL Championship is set to kick off its new season on August 10th, with Middlesbrough and Leeds United both eager to set the tone for their respective campaigns. Last season, Middlesbrough’s slow start ultimately cost them a chance at promotion, while Leeds United narrowly missed out on returning to the Premier League. This season, both teams have plenty to prove, and their opening fixtures could provide early insight into their fortunes for the year ahead.

Middlesbrough vs. Swansea City - Can Carrick Get Boro Firing from the Start?

Middlesbrough's 2022-2023 campaign was a tale of frustration. Under the guidance of young manager Michael Carrick, the team didn't secure their first league win until the eighth round of fixtures. This sluggish start ultimately left them playing catch-up for the remainder of the season, a task at which they were only partially successful. They finished eighth, four points adrift of the playoff spots, with their attacking and defensive metrics showing a decline from the previous season.

Middlesbrough has long been a team hovering on the edges of the promotion playoff spots, and the club’s hierarchy has decided to give Carrick another season to prove himself. After all, last year was Carrick’s first full season in charge, and finishing in a position that reflected the team’s capabilities wasn’t a complete failure. Fans have high expectations for Carrick, driven by his illustrious playing career, but as a manager, he still needs time to figure out how to translate his past successes onto the touchline.

Swansea City's manager, Luke Williams, presents an interesting contrast to Carrick. Despite being younger, Williams has already accumulated a wealth of experience in the lower leagues. In the 2021-2022 season, he led Notts County, then a non-league side, to promotion to League Two. Last season, his newly-promoted team performed admirably in League Two, never once looking threatened by relegation. Their success attracted Swansea's attention, and in January 2023, Williams was poached by the Welsh club. When he left Notts County, the team had scored 55 goals, the most in the English Football League at that point.

Williams’ arrival at Swansea didn't lead to an immediate turnaround in their fortunes, but the club’s leadership has decided to give him time to implement his ideas fully. This season will be a crucial test of whether Williams can replicate the success he enjoyed at Notts County in the Championship.

Both Middlesbrough and Swansea had quiet summers in the transfer market, so much of their success this season will depend on the players' understanding of their respective managers' tactics. Middlesbrough has dominated recent encounters between the two sides, having completed a double over Swansea in each of the last two seasons. However, Boro’s tendency to start slowly could still be a factor in this match. Both teams are likely to only show glimpses of their potential, with a draw being a possible outcome.

Leeds United vs. Portsmouth - Can Pompey Maintain Their Composure in the Championship?

Leeds United enters the new season with unfinished business. Last season, they came agonizingly close to returning to the Premier League, only to fall short in the Championship playoff final, losing 1-0 to Southampton. In a one-off match like a playoff final, the result often hinges on fine margins, and Leeds fans are likely more disappointed than angry about the outcome. What truly frustrated them was the team’s late-season collapse, which saw them surrender an automatic promotion spot to Leicester City and Ipswich Town. Leeds has always been a club with a flair for the dramatic, and their fans will be hoping that this season, the drama ends with a happier conclusion.

On the other side, Portsmouth's journey back to the Championship has been long and arduous. After 12 years spent languishing in the lower tiers of English football, including a period where financial troubles threatened their very existence, Pompey finally secured promotion by winning the League One title last season. Their campaign was characterized by remarkable consistency; they lost only five matches in the 46-game season, though they also drew 13 times. This stability served them well in League One, but the question now is whether they can maintain it in the much more competitive Championship.

Leeds United will view this opening fixture as an opportunity to start their season with a bang. With the home crowd behind them, they’ll be looking to impose themselves on a Portsmouth side that might need time to adjust to the rigors of the Championship. Leeds has the potential to perform at a high level, particularly in their first home game, while Portsmouth might struggle to find their feet early on.

For Leeds, securing a victory here would not only be a strong start to their promotion campaign but also a much-needed morale boost after the disappointment of last season. Portsmouth, on the other hand, will be focused on finding their footing in a new division, knowing that any points they can secure early in the season will be valuable in their quest for Championship survival.

In summary, the opening round of the Championship offers both Middlesbrough and Leeds United a chance to set the tone for the season. Middlesbrough will be keen to avoid the slow starts that have plagued them in recent years, while Leeds will be determined to make an immediate statement of intent in their quest to return to the Premier League. As for Swansea and Portsmouth, both teams have their own challenges to overcome, with Swansea hoping to see the benefits of their managerial gamble and Portsmouth aiming to re-establish themselves in the second tier of English football. The outcomes of these matches could provide early indications of how these teams will fare in the marathon that is the Championship season.